Chrome effect with graphite Powder

its possible to obtain a chrome like effect using graphite powder applied to a glossy surface

I obtained my graphite powder with a 2HB Pen and a sanding paper(I call this Home Made Kosutte Ginsan)

it takes time to learn how to apply it and when to apply it, below pics are my best results

2 plastic spoons, both painted with the glossiest paint I could found(black and white base work, you can tell the black on has a darker shade)




now the one with the black base(as the say all is in the prep)

Black glossy spoon


now with Graphite Powder


How to Videos coming soon...

 

Reeaaally ?

 

Yeah..!

 

Whatever

 

Do you need to seal it in with a top coat or something?

 

Subscribed.

 

ok let me try to post the videos

here first attempt at it
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MSFBj-VRJZ0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I dont know if you guys can see it, please let me know if you can´t

 

that´s the issue, you need to seal it, and it lose some of its shine, but it makes for an awesome kandy base.. I´ll be posting videos of this also..

 

second attempt at it(got a bit better)
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/I7lGSSErTWQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

now applied to a not so glossy surface...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/60XtR0OXl-s?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

So you have to use graphite from a pencil? You just rub it over a painted surface? The paint has to be cured or when it is still tacky?

 

Is the graphite being rubbed INTO the already existing paint?
Is the paint new and somewhat soft, or old and hardened?

 

now here is the issue with clear coating it..

applying clear coat
<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Yj4E20iRxc8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

now a comparison of a cleared one and a not cleared one
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/07yteCTszzQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

i think i just thought of a great way to meet chicks, hand rubbed chrome nail polish

 

it took two and a half minutes to do the spoon...it would take a year to do a bumper...

 

no you dont have to use graphite powder from pencil, but I have yet to try another graphite powder,so I don´t know how it would turn out...it depends on the paint you use, it needs to be midway cure(hard to touch but not too cure)

yes its being rubbed into the already existing painted surface.

the paint I used is 2k Urethane from SherwinW. and I can apply graphite powder to it about 5 to 24 hours(from 6 o 20 is the sweet spot) because if its beyond that say 2 days, then its too hard for it to apply it..

now you could do this with a softer paint, like enamel, but it will not be as shiny. when using lacker then its about 10 minitues after you apply the paint because it dries to fast.... it all depends on the paint, but I only use the glossiest I can get my hands on..


more videos coming...

 

Dark Green Kandy job...

applying green kandy clear(home made kandy paint)
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/E765IPwO-0Q?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

after cure time
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/T-3c3WX2qmw?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I want this type of green kandy on my car...

 

I have a bottle of graphite powder at the school I work at for lubing latches and what not. I tried rubbing some of that on a couple different painted black objects and the graphite just rubbed right off. Maybe its not the same graphite material or the paint has to be fresh?

 

try it on a fresher paint.. white works best, but black is also good

 

That's pretty cool... can't wait to see what someone does with a larger part.

 

it could be done with car rims..! I´ll do it when I get time and I´ll post results..

 

a few more pics...

 

cool

 

you know what´s even cooler? Graphite can be electroplated, so even small pieces can be now chrome plated using nothing but graphite powder and small plating kit..

I´ll be testing this also with a small Plug and Plate CopyChrome Kit I ordered from Caswell plating...

mean while I did electroplated(both on a shiny surface and a rough one, some only nickel plated and others nickel and chrome plated..

pics coming soon...

 

20-30 years ago a friend of mine used to make wood replica handguns and used the graphite on glossy black for a final finish.....properly done it looked like factory finish.

 

Here is the 800 gallon plating tank(the plastic spoon is being plated)


checking to see how its going


Almost done


Done on a shiny surface(graphite powder applied to the glossy painted surface)



now on a rough surface(graphite powder applied directly to the plastic spoon on a sanded surface)

 

that's really neat, have you experimented with different ways of rubbing in the graphite? I would imagine the clear coat would go on better with out the oils from rubbing it in with your hands......

 

I bet you are "THE" coolest dude at picnics.

 

it can be applied with a cloth(part of the cloth you will be applying it needs to be soak with graphite powder) I have try cotton balls but it just do´t work at all(unlike real kosutte ginsan)

 

I don´t use them to eat...

 

It seems like a cost effective method, but maybe not worth the time to do, say a fiberglass bumper?